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Watching the Detectives
Boston Herald
10 August 2008
By Tenley Woodman
Genius Products, $19.95, available Tuesday: C-
Lucy Liu takes a big risk in the romantic comedy Watching the Detectives.
The actress, known for her witchy roles, plays a free spirit whose idea of wooing a boyfriend involves playing pranks.
This film takes many cues from High Fidelity, the dark romantic comedy starring John Cusack as a depressed record store owner going through a breakup.
Neil (Cillian Murphy, Batman Begins) is a film noir junkie who runs his own movie rental shop. While others live in the real world, this slacker prefers Hollywood's take on life.
Enter Violet (Liu, Charlie's Angels), a kooky customer who catches Neil's eye.
The two start an odd romance that involves Violet faking intoxication to test Neil's moral fiber and encouraging him to vandalize his rival in the movie rental business.
Neil finds her unpredictability charming but unsettling. Life with her is like living out his favorite movies, but can he believe anything she says or does?
Liu's performance is out of her comfort zone and unbelievably grating. Violet's eccentricities can be delightful, but a little of her goes a long way. Murphy fits comfortably into his role as a bemused, confused suitor wasting his time away discussing B-movie plots with his cronies.
